Instantly, the pendant starts to heat against my skin. Not warm enough to burn, but enough to be noticeable.
My cheeks heat. “Thank you, again.”
This is the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received. If anything, my lie detector swag will go a long way in keeping me alive.
Best gift ever.
Magnus looks like he’s about to say something that will make the necklace heat up again, when a voice calls from the doorway.
“Oh, there you are,” Rosie says, looking much less anxious now that she isn’t next to the murder forest or the murder man.
I can’t say I blame her.
“I’ve been looking all over for you. I’m so happy Sin didn’t scare you into running away or hiding in your room,” she adds, skipping over to us.
I stiffen, not wanting to lie about the fact that running away is still very much on the table, but Rosie continues, saving me from having to say anything, “I’m glad you realize Sin won’t hurt you. None of us will.”
Magnus shoots a pointed look at my chest, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s tipping me off that the necklace didn’t heat. Rosie isn’t lying.
My posture relaxes a bit, relieved that at least in Rosie’s eyes, I’m perfectly safe.
“Where is our resident lord of frowns?” Magnus asks, his lip quirking up. There’s enough affection in his tone to indicate that he likes Sin.
Shocking.
Rosie shrugs. “He said he had important business to attend to. He’s gone.”
“He left?” I ask, not bothering to mask my irritation.
Of course, why would my kidnapper bother sticking around? According to him, I’m not important enough to warrant any consideration for my time.
I huff, and Rosie gives me an apologetic smile. “I wish I could say he’s gone to get Morgana, but Sin isn’t exactly forthcoming with what he does.”
Magnus cackles. “Forthcoming? I am surprised he even told you he was leaving.”
Rosie raises her eyebrows and grins mischievously as she tilts her chin at me. “Only because he asked me to keep an eye on our mortal. I have a feeling Vivian gave him a run for his money this afternoon.”
Magnus gasps. “Well now I simply must hear this story. Vivian, darling, won’t you join us for dinner?”
At his words, I remember I haven’t eaten a thing today and am starving. I shrug. “Sure, why not?”
We follow Rosie to the dining room that I walked by earlier. It’s a smaller table than the one at Leon’s castle, and the room has an intimate, warm feeling. The table has eight seats, though there are only three place settings. There are dishes piled high with meats, vegetables, bread, pitchers of water, and what I think is wine.
Rosie takes a seat and points to the chair to her right, just beside the head of the table. I take the seat, and Magnus sits in front of us.
I eye the food, trying to figure out if it’s different from the human realm. Do the other realms have chicken?
Rosie must sense my hesitation because she starts adding scoops of whatever she’s taking onto my plate as well. “Don’t worry, I’ve had mortal food before, and I promise this tastes better.”
Dinner is more fun than I expected. As Rosie promised, the food is some of the best I’ve ever tasted. The conversation stays light and friendly, and Magnus has a great time laughing at my earlier escape.
Rosie and Magnus purposefully avoid asking me anything about my being Leon’s Keeper, and instead, I get to listen to them poke fun at each other’s jobs. I learn that Rosie works in the gardens, which she’s promised to show me tomorrow, where she grows medicinal plants.
Magnus’ job is less of a mystery. He sells items in the black market but also has a gift for ‘retrieving’ difficult to obtain items. After our afternoon with the stolen Fae goods, I’m ready to assume that by ‘retrieve,’ he means ‘steal.’
Magnus tells me about snake shifters and their magical abilities. His species are rare, and Magnus’ ability to sense magical auras is even less common. Most snake shifters sense emotions.
“My species is highly empathetic,” he finishes.
